ABSTRACT
This chapter lays the groundwork for the volume and its emphasis on four-skills instruction in the context of English for academic purposes (EAP). The authors explain why the four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) are presented separately in the volume, while, at the same time, they demonstrate how the skills, in real-world contexts, are interrelated. Four overarching assumptions, which run across the volume and which are viewed as fundamental for effective skills-based instruction, are then explained. The assumptions center on the importance of promoting motivation, structuring lessons for meaningful language use, developing language knowledge and skills, and raising metacognitive awareness. The chapter closes with an explanation of who the book was written for and how it is organized.
